AN IMPUDENT IMPOSTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3452, 6 March 1890, Page 2

AN IMPUDENT IMPOSTER.

1 The action of an elderly man, of j the most rospeotable appearance, 1 i who is at present carrying on » 1 remarkable series of-swindles in ' Melbourne, promise before long to end in his arrest. Some days ago ' the Oeteotiva police .were informed: that mi individual, in tho eomblanoQ of a well-to-do professional gentleman, ' had endoavored to extort money | from two well-known undertakers in Fitzroy. Tho mode of procedure is not quite clear, but tho fellow called "to make arangemenjs for the burial of a favourite cliild" in each case. His appearance apparently betokened a recent bereavement, and evon the experiencedundoriakers were deceived. But iu both cases suspicions were aroused by the preliminary payment by chequo which tho visitor oiforcd. Neither of the tradesmen, who were, oi course, visited in turn, cared about cashing paper, though it purported to bo drawn in favour of a litorary gentleman well known about. town, Finding his attempt's to para the cheque futile, the fellowassumoi an air of virtuous indignation and left the premises. Yesterday ho was. again heard of atDr Astley's residence, CI, Collins-street. This time his child was sick, and he exhorted tho medico to lose no time in proceeding to tho address, whioh was given as 51, Gore-street, Fitzroy. Alter the visitor left, a numbor of ornaments and a small alarm clock were' missed from tho. waiting room.' Tin's aroused suspioion, and eabso*, quent inquiiies showed that no person of the name given lived at the address.incntioued,